Sun Belt adds Texas State, likely to lose FIU

The Sun Belt added its second member in less than a month, but that will only makeup for the loss of two current members who are expected to move to Conference-USA.

Texas State joined Georgia State as the newest Sun Belt members, the conference announced Wednesday, and that will offset the departure of Florida International and North Texas, whose move toC-USA is expected to be announced in the next several days.

Sun Belt Commissioner Kent Benson acknowldged the fact that the Sun Belt could FIU and North Texas, but said Texas State and Georgia State “are outstanding additions.”

Like Georgia State, Texas State is moving from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision and will be a full member when it joins the Sun Belt at the start of the 2013-2014 school year.

If FAU and North Texas do move out, that will leave the Sun Belt with 10 football members and 11 overall, asArkansas-Little Rock does not compete in football.

Benson said his goal is to have 12 overall members, so the conference can split into two divisions based on geography that will help with scheduling and travel budgets.

“We will look for members anywhere within our footprint,” Benson said. And they could look outside it for FBS members, as New Mexico State and Idaho, who were both members of the Sun Belt before leaving for the WAC, could be looking for homes if the WAC collapses as expected.

Benson said the conference will also look at current FCS teams, with speculation that Georgia Southern could be a target.

Benson said getting to 12 football members in order to have a playoff is not a priority. “There are plenty of pros and cons to a championship game,” Benson said.

If FIU does move, FAU’s shortest road trip will go from 58 miles to 515, with Troy the closest Sun Belt member. Texas State, which is located in San Marcos, is 1,113 miles from Boca Raton.

The move would also jeopardize the annual Shula Bowl game between the two rivals. FIU and FAU and played each other since 2002.